21st June, Macau: Hong Kong national team member, Ernest Kwok rolled a stunning 3-games series of 782 to take over the lead of the Men's Open Masters standings on the final qualifying day of the 2018 Macao-China International Open with 1534 pinfall.

Kwok, who was ninth in the reserved pool with 1426, improved his lower score of 674 with 782 and leapfrog into the lead with a 6-game tally of 1534. His fine effort finally dislodged overnight leader and second perfect gamer, Pak Kyung Rok of Korea into second spot on 1528.

A second Korean, Hwang Sung Hyun slipped down to third with 1507. India's Dhruv Sarda improved his lower 3-games series with 733 to briefly take up third spot with 1503 only to drop to fourth when Kwok went into the lead.

2018 Thailand Open Men's Grade A champion and a third Korean, Lee Won Seok dropped out of the top 3 bracket to round out the top 5 with 1501. There were no changes atop the local pool with Zoe Dias Ma, Lei Hok Hin and Lee Tak Man occupying the top 3 spots.

The lead of the Women's Open division also changed hands. Japan's Misaki Mukotani improved her 3-game series of 669 with 734 to become the new leader with 1408, the first women to surpass the 1400-mark.

Leader for several days, Nerosha Keligit of Malaysia settled for second position with 1397 ahead of compatriot, Alisha Iman Cheong in third with 1365. A second Japanese, Nanami Irie slipped out of the top bracket into fourth position with 1335.

Kim Hyun A of Korea headed the mixed pool with 1310 while the cut in 15th position went to Shin In Seo of Korea with 1267. Thanchanok Vilailak of Thailand and Milki Ng of Hong Kong dropped out as a result. Three remaining squads remain as press time. A one-game desperado squad will be held to allow the top 3 highest score to join Round 1 finals after the last squad ends.

Seven local men qualifiers, seven overseas men qualifiers, 16 qualifiers from the mixed pool together with the three qualifiers from the desperado squad making up 33 qualifiers will contest Round 1 finals tomorrow morning.